Pump actuating mechanism



Feb. 23, 1960 Filed May 13, 1957 W. H. ALLEN PUMP ACTUATING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Wal/er H. All/en ATTORNEY Feb. 23, 1960 w. H. ALLEN PUMP ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed May 13, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 23 I I @l I /7 I] I, l 2/ I I l l a a 3 35 /8 I 39 B a 60 n 64 63 67 69 74 o a 70 72 66 m Z? U I l I l I /0 FIG. 3

INVENT OR Walter H. A/(en 2,92 ,000 PUMP ACTUATING MECHANISM Walter H. Allen, Albion, lll. Application May 13, 1957, Serial No. 658,664

' Claims. '(Cl. 254-113 I .This invention relates to a pump actuating mechanism,

and more particularly to a power operated apparatus mounted at ground level for operating a sub-surface pump positioned in an oil well or the like. I

A primary object of this invention is a mechanism of this character which willimpart a power or lift stroke to a pump located at a sub-surface level with a minimum power input and a maximum of simplicity and efficiency.

A (further object of this invention is the provision of such a mechanism incorporating a counterweight whereby a minimum power requirement is necessary for the lift stroke and wherein the return stroke is effected by gravity.

A A more specific object of the invention is the provision of apparatus for the vertical reciprocatory movement of apolishing rod or the like including a reversible source, such as a hydraulic pump, having means whereby the reversing is elfect'ed mechanically by the movement of the polish rod or its counterweight.

An additional object is the provision of apparatusfor effecting vertical reciprocatory movementof an operator which may be readily employed with a variety of tool elements, as, for example, a polish rod for operating a well pump, a sand pump, a tubing swab or other device with the presence of an operator, the mechanism may also be employed to pull rods and pumps for repairs or replacement, to fish'broken rods or to pull tubing, thus elimi-.

nating the expense of a special unit for such purposes.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus which may conveniently employ hydraulic, electric or mechanical power as desired, in accordance with local conditions.

Still another object resides in the provision of such a mechanism which is sturdy and desirable in construction, reliable and efficient in operation. and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture,assemble and utilize.-

- Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed-.out hereinafter and shown in the accompanying drawing wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the inventive concept, wherein! Fig. 1 isa side elevational view of one form ofmechanism embodying features of the instant invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the lower portion of the assembly of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary and elevation, partly in section of a detail of construction at the top of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing. I

Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is generally indicated at a base, which may be of concrete or other desired material, positioned at ground level adjacent the mouth of an oil well or the like, form which a boom 11 extends upwardly and outwardly so that its upper end directly overlies the mouth of the well. Boom United States Patent 2,920,000 Patented Feb. 23, 1960 2 11 is provided at its top with a flattened portion 12 through which extends a stub axle 13 which carries rotatable pulleys 14 and 15 for rotation in vertical parallel planes. Boom 11 is provided with a longitudinally extending V-shaped guide flange 16, and has mounted thereon a counterweight or block 17. Counterweight 17 may be of any desired type or material, and of any desired weight (for the desired purpose. In the embodiment shown, a concrete rectangular block is comprised of two opposite sections 18, each provided on their confronting faces with semi-circular grooves 19 forming a circular bore sur roundingboom 11. Each groove 19 is cut away at one edge 20, the cut away portions forming a channel to guide the block along guide flange 16 in its vertical movement along boomll. Bolts 21 extend through suitable bores in block sections 18, to secure the two sections together.

An eye 22 having a shank 23 embedded in, or otherwise secured to, the top of block 17 has secured thereto one end of a cable 24, which passes over pulley 15 and is secured at its other end to an eye 25 comprising a part of a conventional top fitting 26 for a polish rod 27. Polish rod 27 carries a collar 28, adjacent and below fitting 26, the purpose of which will be more fully described hereinafter, and has at its lower end a conventional fitting 29, by means of which a pump rod or other tool element is adapted to be secured, for vertical reciprocator movement in the well.

Eye 25 also has secured thereto one end of a second cable30 which extends over pulley 14 and thence down wardly to a cable drum generally indicated at 35, about which it is wound; Drum 35 includes a spool 36 carried by an axle 37 which is mounted for rotation in supporting journal'brackets 38 mounted on base 10, and end plates 39.

, Axle 37 carries between one end plate 39 and the adjacent bracket 38, a gear 40, driven by a chain 41 which also engages .a gear 42 mounted on the drive shaft 43 of a reversible hydraulic motor 44, of any desired conventional construction. The motor 44 is provided with two lines 45a and 45b, both of which extend to a reversing valve generally indicated at 46, either of which may serve as a supplyline or a return line, in accordance with the position of valve 46. Fluid is supplied to valve 46 fluid flow through motor 44, may be interposed in either line .45a.or 45b, illustratively, line 45a to control the speed of rotation of drum 35. Pump 48 is driven through a'gear 52 and chain 53, by a gear 54 mounted on the drive shaft 55,. of any suitable power motor, such as-a' gasolinezeng'ine. 56, also'mounted onbase 10.

Valve 46 has an internal fluid valve member or guide baffle 57, as best shown in Fig. 4, and an externally positioned operating arm 58. With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 4, fluid from pump 48 will enter valve 46 through line 47, and pass through line 45b to motor 44, and thence through line 45a, brake valve 51 and line 50, back to tank 49, thus driving motor 44 in one direction. Obviously, by moving operating arm 58 a quarter turn to the left, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, fluid under pressure will be directed from line 47 through line 45a to motor 44, line 45b serving as a return line to tank 49, through line 50.

Means are provided for automatically moving operating arm 58 to reverse the direction of operation of motor 44 in accordance with the position of polish rod 27, and take the form of an L-shaped lever 60 having one leg 61 terminating in a loop 62 surrounding and slidable on operating handle 58. The other leg 63 is mounted on a pivot 3 64 carried by one of supports 38 for movement in a vertical plane.

The end of leg 63 extending beyond pivot 64 engages in a clevis 65 carried by the end of an aligned portion 67 of a second lever,'generally indicated at 66, which has also a right-angled portion 68 and'a straight portion 69 parallel to portion 67, portion 69 being pivotal as on a pivot 70 carried by boom 11.

Pivotally mounted on boom 11, as by a pivot 71 immediately above pivot 70 is a bell crank lever 72, having one arm 73 located in the path of downward travel of weight 17, the other arm 74 normally abutting portion 69 on the side of pivot 71 nearest valve 46, so that the weight of counterweight 17, at its downmost portion'of travel, tilts lever 66 to move valve operating arm 62 in one direction.

The end of portion 69 extending beyond pivot 70 terminates in a loop 75 surrounding rod 27, in the path of downward travel of collar 28, so that as rod 27 moves downwardly, the engagement of collar 28 with loop 75 tilts lever 66 in a direction opposite to thetilting elfected by bell crank lever 72, to move valve operating arm 58 to reverse the direction of fluid flow through motor 44.

Suitable guy wires 76, extend from the topof boom 11, to a suitable point on base for additional support of the boom and its associated elements.

From the foregoing, the operation of the mechanism should now be readily understandable. After rod 27 has been suitably connected to the operating arm of a pump or the like in the well, assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 1, power source 56 is actuated to start pump 48. The valve being in the position shown in Fig. 4, fluid will be fed through line 45b to actuate motor 44 to rotate drum 35 in a clockwise direction. Since the weight of rod 27 is greater than that ofits counterweight 17, gravity will effect the down stroke of rod 27 with substantially no exertion of power by motor 44. When collar 28 strikes loop 75, the position of valve arm 62 will be changed to reverse the flow of fluid so that line 45a serves as an inlet, to cause motor 44 to revolve drum 35 in a counter-clockwise direction to lift polish rod 27, at the same time lowering counterweight 17. At its lowermost point of descent, counterweight 17 will strike arm 73 of hell crank 72 to move valve operating arm 58 back to the position of Fig. 2, and hence valve member 57 to the position of Fig. 4 to again reverse the direction of fluid flow and the cycle will be repeated.

In the foregoing there has been described a gasoline engine as the source of power, and a hydraulic motor and pump as the actuating means, which is particularly suitable in locations where no suitable source of electricity is available, it is to be understood that a reversible electric motor may be employed in situations where such power is readily available.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved apparatus for actuating oil well pumps or similar uses which accomplishes all of 4 the objects of this invention and others including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment, herein shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter hereinis to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a mechanism of the class described, in combination, a base, a boom inclined forwardly on said base adapted to overlie the mouth of a well, a rotatable drum carried by said base, pulley means at the top of said boom, a cable wound on said drum and extending over said pulley means, an operating tool secured to the free end of said cable adapted for vertical reciprocation. in said well, a counterweight slidable on said boom, a second cable secured to said counterweight extending over said pulley means and connectedto'said operating tool, a reversible fluid drive motor for selectively rotating said drum in opposite directions, valve means for reversing said motor, and means actuable by said counterweight for moving said valve to operate said motor in one direction, said last mentioned means being actuable by said operating tool 'for moving said valve to reverse said motor.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said counterweight includes a central bore having a groove along one side thereof said boom extending through said bore, and a guide flange on said boom fitting into said groove.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said means.actuable by said counterweight and said means actuable by said operating tool comprises a lever pivoted on said base tiltable by the alternate weight of said counterweight and said tool to move said valve to alternate position.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein said means actuable by said counterweight compn'sesa bell crank lever pivoted on said boom in the path of downward travel of said counterweight.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein feed and return lines extend from said valve to said fluid drive motor and an-adjustable flow control valve is mounted in one of said lines.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 979,519 Larson Dec. 27, 1910 1,970,596 Coberly Aug. '21, 1934 2,440,961 Link May 4, 1948 2,560,676 White July 17,1951 2,715,015 Thornburg Aug. 9, 1955 2,728,193 Bacchi Dec. 27, 1955 2,749,090 Hudson June 5, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 63,622 Netherlands July 15, 1949 

